If You’re Not Using Google Earth in Your Teaching, It’s Time

It might truly feel overwhelming to have a different classroom tech tool to find out, but have confidence in me, Google Earth is a complete recreation-changer when it will come to university student engagement. And it can be utilised throughout numerous articles locations, so it is a gain-gain! 

Google Earth is a absolutely free plan that renders 3D representations of the world making use of satellite images (not to be baffled with the Google Maps we use when we’re misplaced). A person of the most incredible features of the software is the “street look at,” which lets a user the skill to “drop in” to a location by means of aerial pictures and GSI data. This implies that our learners can “walk” alongside the Wonderful Wall of China or consider a virtual tour of the White Residence from their classroom or household.

Bring the entire world to your classroom

I discovered about Google Earth in 2012 and made the decision to give it a try out with my first graders. At the time, I was teaching a device on communities. Numerous of my students hadn’t traveled considerably exterior of city, and I wanted a way for my firsties to grasp the vastness of the earth around them. 

I begun the lesson by typing in our university address on Google Earth.

This authorized my learners to “see” our college playground and properties on our large display. What I did not anticipate was the rapid feeling of awe and wonder it developed!

Following, I zoomed out to see our community. College students started to realize structures and destinations in city. Quickly everybody required me to search up their dwelling, their very best friend’s home, and their grandparents’ spot.

Last but not least, I zoomed out even a lot more to look at unique cities, cities, and areas close to the world. My learners right away begged for extra. I uncovered myself pulling up Google Earth not just for the duration of social experiments, but in other articles spots as perfectly. It immediately turned my go-to software. 

Utilizing Google Earth in ELA

Google Earth can be used across grade stages and content material areas. It is a great resource to help students visualize texts. For illustration, when studying the e-book A Very long Walk to Drinking water by Linda Sue Park, it can be beneficial to provide background information and develop some context right before studying by virtually demonstrating students pictures of the terrain, plant everyday living, and community structures in Sudan. Google Earth supplies an interactive and partaking visible so that our pupils far better understand the nation and the bordering place as they go by way of the book examine.

And far better still, investigation reveals that studying gains are most substantial when students have far more track record knowledge, so incorporating Google Earth is yet another effective way to do just that!

Integrating Google Earth into math lessons

When we can make actual-daily life connections, our students are extra probable to locate price in what they’re learning. If you’re teaching geometric measurements, the measurement instruments inside of Google Earth are a wonderful device to benefit from. For actual-entire world mathematical troubles, pull up the school playground or soccer subject and use the measurement instruments to ascertain the perimeter or location of the place. For extra visible follow, have pupils locate geometric measurements of certain locations or landmarks.

Google Earth and science

If you’re learning biodiversity or habitats, the “street view” characteristic of Google is a potent way for college students to conceptualize the earth. Have your college students “visit” the Amazon rainforest:

Or choose an underwater tour of the Terrific Barrier Reef:

The panoramic views on Google Earth deliver an opportunity for college students to “look around” or investigate the biodiversity of the world, which is positive to hold them engaged.

Integrate Google Earth in your sub strategies

If you’re getting pulled to deal with a further course mainly because of the present sub shortage, or if you require an participating exercise to depart with a guest trainer, look at a Google Earth–integrated digital industry vacation. Make Google Earth purposeful by taking your college students on a digital tour of a essential landmark, state, or distinct historic site although also integrating looking through and writing abilities. Mix informational textual content on the matter, Google Earth hyperlinks, and significant pondering reaction inquiries to give your pupils with a digital discipline vacation. If you have products, your students can complete this as an impartial, self-paced activity. Or your visitor trainer could serve as the tour guide and navigate by way of Google Earth total team. 

With know-how now, we have new approaches to engage our learners and deliver lessons that go outside of the textbook. The planet of teaching choices is limitless with Google Earth.

How do you use Google Earth in the classroom? Let us know in the remarks.

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